Monday, January 14, 2008

Sock Monkey Heads for Gloves

These were inspired by the sock-monkey-inspired fingerless gloves designed by knitphomaniac. They are basically truncated toe-up socks, so you can use the toe and heel of your choice, if you don't like the ones I used. The pattern is for 40 stitches in the round, rather than 44 (like the gloves), but they fit most hands, since they are knitted flat rather than ribbed. At the end is the modification for the thumb, so it is closed at the top (like a monkey arm), but with a hole for the thumb to pop out too.

Alternate rows C and D 2 more times. This leaves 4 wrapped stitches on each side, and 12 live stitches in between. Note that the wrapped stitches are not symmetric, because the first wrapped stitch is not white. Leave white yarn (do not cut). Join red yarn, leaving longish tail.

-K 8, pick up (red) wrap and k with next (red) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 red wraps. Turn.-P 9. Pick up (red) wrap and p with next (red) stitch. Wrap next (red) stitch, which will then have total 2 red wraps. Turn.-K 10. On next stitch, pick up both (red) wraps and k with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have one white and one red wrap. Turn.-P 11. On next st, pick up both (red) wraps and p with their (red) st. Cut red yarn, leaving tail. Do not turn yet. Switch to the white yarn that had been left before. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps (basically, a double wrap). Turn.

-K 12. On next stitch, pick up both (red + white) wraps and k with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps. Turn.-P 13. On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and p with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps. Turn.-K 14. On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and k with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps. Turn.-P 15. On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and p with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps. Turn.-K 16 (20). On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and k with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (brown) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps. Turn.-P 17 (21). On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and p with their (white) stitch. Wrap next (white) st, which will then have total 2 white wraps. Turn.-K 18 (22). On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and k with their (main color) stitch. Do not wrap next stitch. Turn.-P 19 (23). On next stitch, pick up both (white) wraps and p with their (white) stitch. Do not wrap next stitch. Turn.

Cut white yarn, and change to main color yarn than had been left earlier.

-3 rows K even-2 rows of 2x2 rib (k2, p2). If you want, plan ribs so they align with glove.-1 row of 2x2 rib all, except once in middle of back, do [yo, k2tog] instead of k2 to make buttonhole-1 row 2x2 rib-Bind off loosely in rib.

Ears

In main color yarn:Cast on 8 st in middle east wrap method.Work same as for crown of head, up to 16 stitches.K even 4 rows.Combine stitches from needles 1+2 onto one needle.Pull through loose initial tail and weave in, leaving inside ear.Do 3 needle cast off, completely closing the ear and leaving longish tail.

Finishing

-Attach ears to sides of face, using tails left on ears.-Weave in all ends, carefully around snout area.-Attach 2 buttons for eyes.-Attach 2 hook-eye closures, to connect back of glove to head. “Eyes” of hooks can be sewn on inside (WS) of glove, and pushed through the glove when needed for hooking.-Attach 1 button on middle of back of glove, slightly lower than level of hooks. This way, the middle back of the “face” gets pulled down, so the snout will “puff up” a bit.

Modifications to thumb

Provisional cast on with white yarn 16 stsK even 4 rowsChange to red yarn, K even 2 rowsChange back to white yarn. K 11, cast off 5.K 11, cable cast on 5 st -- back to 16 stitches.K even until 1/4" from top of thumb.K2tog until 2 st remain, then pull yarn through last 2 st.Undo provisional cast on for the 16 st to use to graft thumb onto glove.When you join the thumbs to the gloves, make sure to put the opening towards the palm of the glove (the two gloves will be different).

4 comments:

Silvana
said...

I've seen these in person -- they are absolutely too cute for words. Who could resist something that will keep you warm, make you look adorable, entertain a child (or a grown-up) and still let you eat pizza with your hands? Brilliant!

Yola! James and I are looking at your knitting blog and are both so impressed. I love all of these projects and instructions. Thank you so much for the shawl---I am wearing it today, with a dress and brown boots.

The middle east wrap method is the same as a Turkish cast-on. There are several good tutorials and videos online. It makes a seamless cast-on with stitches going in two different directions (like provisional cast-on)